NSW: Opp wins bid to have Baker bill debated

AAP General News (Australia)
08-30-2000
NSW: Opp wins bid to have Baker bill debated

SYDNEY, Aug 30 AAP - New South Wales Opposition Leader Kerry Chikarovski has won her
bid to have a bill to keep convicted killer Allan Baker behind bars debated in state parliament.

Moves to have the legislation debated in the lower house have been repeatedly blocked
by the government.

However the opposition today received the support of the crossbenchers to have the
bill heard in the upper house.

Baker and Kevin Crump were jailed for life in 1974 for the shooting murder of Ian Lamb
and for conspiracy to murder Virginia Morse.

Mrs Chikarovski's bill denies Baker, whose case is before the NSW Supreme Court, the
right to apply for his life sentence to be redetermined.

If the court upholds Baker's request for redetermination, a judge will set a date after
which Baker can apply to the Parole Board for release.

The government has argued debating the bill while the matter was before the court could
jeopardise the proceedings.

AAP ls/ah/arb/bwl

KEYWORD: BAKER (CARRIED EARLIER)

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